City Officials Announce Computer Science Education Plan

Posted by Editoron December 12, 2013in Education|Comments Off on City Officials Announce Computer Science Education Plan

The City of Chicago makes strides to bridge the digital learning divide.

On Monday, Mayor Rahm Emanuel and CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett announced during Computer Science Education Week the most comprehensive K-12 computer science education plan in a school district.

Foundational computer science training in elementary schools, computer science classes in high schools, and the recasting computer science as a curriculum requirement are all developments proposed in the city’s new plan.

“By democratizing computer science, we are leveling the playing field for all children to have the same skills, appetite to learn, and access to technology to excel in this growing field,” Mayor Emanuel said in a statement.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, by 2020, the U.S. estimates almost 760,000 new jobs to be created in computer and information technology, yet American universities are only expected to award 40,000 bachelor degrees in computer science in the same period

Over the next five years, Chicago Public School’s elementary and high school programs will integrate computer science literary and will include foundational computer science courses for high school students, offerings of AP Computer Science courses, and an implementation of a K-8 computer science pathway.

Chicago Public Schools will receive free computer science curriculum and professional training for teachers through a partnership with the non-profit code.org.

Hour of Code events are taking place throughout CPS schools, instructing students on the basics of coding and programming. These events are supported by code.org, Codeacademy and the Starter League.